“Not Only Did I Hit My Goal, I Exceeded It!”
†Results vary depending on starting point and effort. Chris is an independent Beachbody Coach.
Meet Chris, age 38 from Columbia, MO. He entered The Beachbody Challenge in December, 2014, and won a Daily Prize of $500 + a Monthly Prize of $1,000 for a total of $1,500!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I have always tried to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. I played many sports in high school and have continued to play sports recreationally and have taken up long-distance running in my 20’s and 30’s. However, I noticed that with age, my muscles started looking more deflated, and my mid-section started getting bigger and softer. This was despite eating “healthy” and running 10 to 15 miles per week! Also, my energy was decreasing, likely due to work-related stress and lack of sleep. I also have three young boys, ages 4, 3, and 19 months. They are high-energy and love to play with me when I get home from work. Despite how much I loved playing with them, I simply did not have the energy or stamina to keep up with them for more than short periods of time. This was depressing to me. I felt like they deserved more from me, and I wanted to give them more. I decided to make a serious change. My goal was to increase my energy, stamina, and strength so I could be a better dad.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I was inspired by my wife. After giving birth to three baby boys in short succession, she decided she needed to lose some baby weight and get her energy back. She purchased PiYo and immediately loved the program. She never missed a workout. In the end, she lost 10 pounds and 10 inches off her waist. After witnessing her incredible transformation, I was inspired to take on a challenge of my own!
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
The greatest challenge I faced, and the greatest challenge I think most adults face, is time! I did not have time to work out! Or at least I didn’t think I did. After my obligations at work, home, church and in the community, I simply did not have an hour or two hours to commit to working out. Nor did I have the energy! So, you can imagine how excited I become when I heard about P90X3! All the results of P90X, but in no more than 30 minutes a day?! That was exactly the program I was looking for! The workouts were tough, and there were few rest breaks between exercises. But it was ok because I was done in 30 minutes! I would always tell myself, “You can do anything for 30 minutes!” I got through the program and because they were so short, I actually never missed a workout! I was able to fit in workouts in the mornings or the evenings, depending on my work schedule. I was even able to do some workouts over my lunch break! P90X3 was the perfect program for my busy life!
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I really liked everything about P90X3. I liked that the workouts were no more than 30 minutes. I liked that Tony Horton uses a lot of strength maneuvers such as push-ups and pull-ups. I also liked that he kept mixing up the workouts by including days of Yoga, Pilates, MMX, CVX, Triometrics, etc. This kept the program from becoming stale and kept my muscles guessing all the time. I liked that Tony and the others on the videos were real people who did not always have perfect form and who sometimes struggled with the exercises, just like me. Even after doing the program for 90 days, there were still some moves I could not master. But that didn’t bother me. I just kept hitting play, and the results eventually came. I also liked the extras that came with the program such as the calendar, which kept my workouts on track, and the food/nutrition guide, which helped me plan my meals.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I started P90X3 roughly about 3 months before my 38th birthday. As I would be finishing the program within about one week of my birthday, I decided to set a really crazy goal. I wanted to be able to do as many pull-ups, non-stop, as years old I was at the end of the program. When I first set the goal, I admit that I did not believe it was physically possible to achieve. But I figured, shoot for the stars and hit the moon, right? If I could end the program being able to do 20 or 25 pull-ups, that would be a great accomplishment, even if I did not hit my goal. Well, I finished the 90 days, and on my 38th birthday, I jumped up on the pull-up bar to try to hit my goal. I did not complete 38 pull-ups. I completed 40 pull-ups!!! I could not believe it. Not only did I hit my goal, but I exceeded it!!! I owe my success to the heavy focus on pull-ups in the P90X3 program, my courage to set a lofty goal, and my sheer determination to “bring it” every day.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
Working out and eating right every day has now become a part of my life. I am much more disciplined now regarding what I eat. I also place fewer limitations on myself now. After having such a positive experience with P90X3, and having achieved things that I did not think possible, I am now reconsidering many limitations I have placed on myself, in all areas of my life. I now see more opportunities in life than I did before, not just with my physical fitness, but professionally, spiritually, and as a father and husband.
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
The challenge group was great. My coach gave the group daily and weekly challenges that helped keep us motivated. I particularly liked the “strength Saturdays” where we all had to do a plank or a wall sit for as long as we could. We then had to post our times to the group Facebook page. We enjoyed competing against each other and pushing ourselves. I believed these group challenges and competitions helped me give a greater effort than I would have on my own.
How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program (such as Shakeology® or Beachbody Ultimate Reset®) support your transformation? What are the greatest benefits you gained? Did you see benefits to your energy, sleep, mood/mental clarity, digestion/regularity?
I faithfully used Shakeology throughout my fitness journey, and I believe it was integral to my success. First, I loved the taste of it (chocolate) and looked forward to having it every night as my sweet treat. Second, it served as an excellent meal replacement, with all the nutrients and ingredients my body needed to recover from the stress and strain of the workouts. Third, Shakeology helped me feel full and curbed my late night cravings.2
You can change your life too. Take the Beachbody Challenge for the tools you need to Decide, Commit, and Succeed. Complete any Beachbody program, and enter your results for a free shirt and a chance to win cash & prizes.
2These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.